MALIBU, CALIF. -- The. No. 4 USC women's tennis team rolled up another shutout win in its opening stretch of 2013 action as the Trojans dealt out a 7-0 sweep of their host No. 33 Pepperdine on Thursday in Malibu. The Women of Troy improve to 4-0 on the year with today's victory, which saw USC control things down the line.

 

USC made a winning push in doubles with two powerful wins from courts two and three. Playing together for the first time this season, the Trojan combo of sophomore Zoë Scandalis and freshman Ellie Yates pounded out an 8-1 win at the No. 3 spot. At No. 2, USC's Giuliana Olmos and Danielle Lao charged to an 8-3 win with an 8-3 decision that put a point on the board for USC and put a stop to doubles play, suspending a tense battle on court one. There, USC's top-ranked Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria were trying to come back against Pepperdine's No. 4-ranked Guillermo/Issara. The Trojans were down 4-5 to the Waves when doubles play came to a halt.

 

In singles play, USC was able to capture the first sets down the line. The momentum stayed totally in Trojan territory the rest of the way, with no more than two games lost in a set during USC's first four singles victories. At the No. 6 spot, Valeria Pulido pinned up a near-perfect 6-0, 6-1 win over Danielle Feneridis to take USC ahead 2-0. Kaitlyn Christian was similarly dominant at the No. 5 position, rolling up a 6-0, 6-2 win over Megan Moore to put the Trojans within striking distance, up 3-0. Last week's Pac-12 Player of the Week Giuliana Olmos stayed keyed in on her winning ways with the clinching victory in this one, taking down Michaela Capannolo 6-2, 6-1 for the win from court four.

 

Up on court one, #17 Sabrina Santamaria drilled out a 6-0, 6-2 win over Pepperdine's #104 Lorraine Guillermo to pad the Trojan lead to 5-0, and the USC senior #14 Danielle Lao wrapped up Ale Granillo with a 6-4, 6-0 win. Bringing home the final match of the day was USC's #19 Zoë Scandalis from the No. 2 spot. She sped out to a strong start and won the first set, but fell in the second to bring up extra time. The USC sophomore would prevail 10-5 in crunch time, as she rounded out the match with a win from court two to keep USC's streak of sweeps alive and well in 2013.

 

USC now returns home to Marks Stadium for a Saturday clash with Fresno State at 12 p.m. on Feb. 2.

 

#4 USC 7, #33 Pepperdine 0

Jan. 31, 2013 - Malibu, Calif.
 

DOUBLES

(1) #1 Christian/Santamaria (USC) vs. #4 Guillermo/Issara (PEP) - 4-5 susp.

(2) Lao/Olmos (USC) def. Capannolo/Moore (PEP) - 8-3

(3) Scandalis/Yates (USC) def. Feneridis/Granillo (PEP) - 8-1

USC wins doubles point.

Order of finish: 3, 2
 

SINGLES

(1) #17 Sabrina Santamaria (USC) def. #104 Lorraine Guillermo (PEP) - 6-0, 6-2

(2) #19 Zoë Scandalis (USC) vs. #92 Khunpak Issara (PEP) - 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-5)

(3) #14 Danielle Lao (USC0 vs. Ale Granillo (PEP) - 6-4, 6-0

(4) Giuliana Olmos (USC) def. Michaela Capannolo (PEP) - 6-2, 6-1*

(5) Kaitlyn Christian (USC) def. Megan Moore (PEP) - 6-0, 6-2

(6) Valeria Pulido (USC) def. Danielle Feneridis (PEP) - 6-0, 6-1
 

Order of finish: 6, 5, 4*, 1, 3, 2